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Common English Similes

Compiled by Leon  ©2007-2008

Foreword

Dear Simile Searcher:

Unfortunately, the following list of English similes is not comprehensive & it is not in any particular order, except in the order that they came to mind.  Some of these similes may be regional and I'm from the U.S., so, you may want to keep that in mind.

Please notice that I've divided the list of similes into categories of
     (1) explicit similes (similes which have explicit meanings)
     (2) implicit similes (similes which have implicit meanings)

These terms, namely 'explicit simile' and 'implicit simile', were coined by me, Leon of Leon's EFL Planet.  Any similarity to other terms coined by others are purely coincidental.  No plagiarism was done here.  I honestly do not know if others have similar labels or not.


At the bottom, I've included a list of common metaphorical collocations, which may appear like similes, but are not.

The most important SIMILES you'll ever learn

"Like a Thief in the Night"

"Like lightning"

MORE about these similes

 

Table of Contents

I.  Explicit Similes (as...as...)

II.  Implicit Similes (like....)

III.  Common Metaphorical Collocations

　

 

The Lists

EXPLICIT SIMILES
As sly as a fox.
As quiet as a mouse.
As wise as an owl.
As clever as a fox.
As wily as a coyote.
As cute as a button.
As pretty as a picture.
As soft as a baby's behind.
As hard as a rock.
As dumb as rocks.
As brave as a lion.
As noisy as a herd of elephants.
As pure as the driven snow.
As white as the driven snow.
As black as night.
As red as a tomato.
As graceful as a swan.
As poor as a church mouse.
As slow as molasses in January.
As fast/quick as lightning.
As colorful as a rainbow.
As playful as a kitten.
As dead as a door nail.
As pale as a ghost.
As skinny as a rail.
As fat as a cow.
As hungry as a hippo.
As cool as a cat.
As sick as a dog.
As plain as day.
As fake as a three-dollar bill.
As crooked as a politician.
As happy as a lark.
As naked as a jay bird.
As blind as a bat.
As strong as a horse.
As dumb as an ox.
As tough as nails.
As harmless as a dove.
As stubborn as a mule.
As busy as a bee.

 

IMPLICIT SIMILES
IMPLICIT SIMILE MEANING
eat like a bird (eat very little)
live like a pig  (live very untidily)
eat like a pig  (eat very sloppily) [U.S.]
like a tiger  (very aggressive)
swim like a fish  (swim very well)
eyes like a hawk  (eyes, which can see the minutest detail, even from a great distance)
like a wolf in sheep's clothing  (cunning)
sleep like a baby  (sleep soundly)
work like the devil  (work hard)
drink like a fish  (drink a lot of alcohol/liquor)
run around like a chicken with its head cut off  (run around crazily)
live like a candle in the wind  (live dangerously)
lie like a sieve  (tell lies often)
take it like a man  (endure sth well) [as opposed to take it like a little boy]
as many as the sands of the seashore (innumerable)
like finding a needle in a haystack (nearly impossible to find)
sing like a bird  (sing very well)
multiply like rabbits  (have many babies)
to know ((sth)) like the back of one's hand (to know something very, very well)

　

 

The most important similes you'll ever learn:

Like a thief in the night:  suddenly and without warning

Like lightning:  quickly, very quickly

These similes describe the coming of the end of the world (as we know it)

click to learn more

 

 

The following are NOT similes, I call them:

'Common Metaphorical Collocations'

　

COLLOCATION MEANING USAGE
eagle eyes eyes with excellent vision nice
four eyes  a person with glasses rude, vulgar
egg head  a person who studies too much rude, vulgar
blockhead  a foolish person not very nice
airhead  a stupid person not very nice
numbskull  a stupid person rude, vulgar usage
bird brain  a stupid person rude, vulgar usage
lion-hearted  generous very nice
sunny disposition  happy personality very nice
rocket scientist  a very intelligent person nice
sweet talk  praise given for the purpose of manipulation neutral
silver-tongued  having eloquence nice
forked tongue  a tongue or mouth, which speaks duplicity insulting
butter fingers  fingers, which are clumsy insulting
green thumb  a talent for growing plants complimenting
black heart wicked personality insulting
red carpet treatment royal treatment neutral
blue skies happiness neutral, subjective to one's mood
gray skies melancholy neutral, subjective to one's mood
white paper government report neutral

　For more about metaphors, click here.

Books about Similes:

 

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